The starter motors are non-repairable starter motors. It has pole pieces that are arranged around the armature within the starter housing. When the solenoid windings are energized, the pull-in winding circuit is completed to ground through the starter motor. The hold-in winding circuit is completed to ground through the solenoid. The windings work together magnetically to pull in and hold in the plunger. The plunger moves the shift lever. This action causes the starter drive assembly to rotate on the armature shaft spline as it engages with the flywheel ring gear on the engine. At the same time, the plunger closes the solenoid switch contacts in the starter solenoid. Full battery voltage is then applied directly to the starter motor and it cranks the engine.

As soon as the solenoid switch contacts close, current stops flowing thorough the pull-in winding as battery voltage is now applied to both ends of the windings. The hold-in winding remains energized; its magnetic field is strong enough to hold the plunger, shift lever, starter drive assembly, and solenoid switch contacts in place to continue cranking the engine. When the engine starts, the pinion overrun protects the armature from excessive speed until the switch is opened.

When the ignition switch is released from the CRANK position, voltage is removed from the starter solenoid S terminal. Current flows from the motor contacts through both windings to ground at the end of the hold-in winding. However, the direction of the current flow through the pull-in winding is now in the opposite direction of the current flow when the winding was first energized.

The magnetic fields of the pull-in and hold-in windings now oppose one another. This action of the windings, along with the help of the return spring, cause the starter drive assembly to disengage and the solenoid switch contacts to open simultaneously. As soon as the contacts open, the starter motor is turned off.

Moving the ignition switch to the START position signals the body control module (BCM) that engine crank has been requested. The BCM verifies that theft is not active and sends a serial data message to the powertrain control module (PCM) requesting engine start. The BCM also energizes the RUN/CRANK RELAY. When the RUN/CRANK RELAY switch side closes, and the vehicle is in Park/Neutral, supply voltage is applied to the starter relay coil. The PCM verifies the transmission is in Park/Neutral. The PCM will then ground the control circuit of the starter relay, closing the switch suppling voltage to the starter solenoid. On some vehicles the starter will continue to crank the engine with the key released until it starts, the crank command has timed out to prevent excessive heat build up in the starter circuitry or the PCM receives an engine run flag.